Philadelphia Public Bank Visioning Summit

September 18
1-4pm via Zoom

The Philadelphia Public Banking coalition invites you to the Philadelphia Public Banking Visioning Summit! This summit will gather leaders from the communities the bank will benefit to explore the question: what can the public bank do for you?
If you think private banks’ lending practices are unfair and your community can benefit from a public bank in this city, join us September 18th to learn more about the Philadelphia Public Bank and how to make it a reality. Philadelphia Councilmember Green and a majority of the City Council are in favor of the public bank. On September 18 from 1-4pm via Zoom, come learn how the public bank can put control of public dollars into communities and get involved in making this people’s bank happen now!

Click here to learn more and register!

SEPTA proposes renaming its city rail lines to help everyone get around

Thomas Fitzgerald, Philadelphia inquirer

Only longtime users can decipher the century-old labels to navigate the system. SEPTA thinks colors and simpler signs could help. SEPTA’s rail transit network makes for a sprawling map, and it’s a mouthful to say (take a deep breath): the Market-Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line, the Norristown High Speed Line, and the 10, 11, 13, 15, 34, 36, 101 and 102 Trolleys.

Why not just call the whole Hydra-headed lot of it the Metro? The SEPTA Metro.

That’s a big opening proposal in the transit agency’s wayfinding master plan, released Tuesday, to make rail transit easier to use in the Philadelphia region. The idea: Unify under one brand a system often thought of line by line, route by route because it’s been labeled that way for a century.

The agency plans a redo of the system’s maps and signs with the aim of making wayfinding images easier to see and understand quickly. Lines will be denoted by capital letters and color badges instead of pictographs of rail vehicles over colored backgrounds. Planners propose keeping the hues historically associated with them, such as orange for the Broad Street Line, blue for the Market-Frankford Line (the El), and green for trolley routes.
“Metro” is used around the world, Powers said, and it translates well into Spanish and Chinese, the second and third most spoken languages in the Philadelphia area.

Read more here.

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SEPTA is testing out a new name for its rail network: the Metro
Michaela Winberg, BillyPenn

The Metro: Each line repped by just a letter and a color. Now, the routes will be identified by just one letter and plain background color:

• The Broad Street Line: B with an orange background

• The Market-Frankford Line: L with a blue background (since people usually call it the El or the L)

• The Center City trolleys: T with a green background

• The Route 15 trolley: G with a yellow background (because the route runs along Girard Avenue)

• The Norristown High Speed Line: M with a purple background (M for Montgomery lines)

• The Media-Sharon Hill Line: D with a pink background (D for Delaware lines)

To kick off the two-month feedback period, SEPTA is installing examples of the new signage at seven stations. You can peep the potential rebrand at 15th Street/City Hall Station, 69th Street Station, Allegheny Station, Olney Station, the 40th Street Trolley Portal, and the Norristown High Speed Line’s Gulph Mills stop.
All the new signs will feature QR codes, directing riders to a website where they can share their thoughts. SEPTA also promises to deploy crews to stations periodically to ask for feedback in person.

More here.

Enhanced federal unemployment benefits for the pandemic end.

Rob Tornoe, Philadelphia Inquirer

Enhanced federal unemployment insurance put in place during the pandemic and extended by the most recent COVID-19 relief bill expired over the weekend.
The three federal unemployment programs that expired over the weekend are:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: Provided up to 79 weeks of unemployment benefits to freelancers and gig workers normally not eligible for traditional unemployment.

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation: Provided up to 53 weeks of additional unemployment benefits.

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation: Provided an additional $300 a week to unemployment payments.

Several state and federal programs will continue to provide aid, but most have specific requirements. Pennsylvania officials have compiled a list of resources for residents facing unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are the assistance programs that can still help.

Replacement SNAP Benefits

Click here to download form

Somerset Academy: Back to School Fun Day

Help Keep Your Neighborhood Clean!!!

NEW RENTERS: Eviction moratorium has been extended to October 3th

An eviction moratorium has been extended by the federal government through October 3, 2021. To qualify tenants must sign the CDC Eviction Protection Declaration Form.
Pennsylvania residents can get the form and apply for emergency rental assistance here: https://phlrentassist.org. Previously there was a $2,000 per month maximum on rent assistance and a $2,000 per utility maximum on assistance. Applicants can apply for any amount they wish. Also, applicants who have received funding from Phase 4, or who applied for Phase 4 and have an application under review, may apply for additional assistance including additional forward rent, as well as rent, utilities and fees not previously requested.

Responding to Storm Damage and Flooding from Hurricane Ida

All residents, business, and property owners: If you were impacted by the storm please answer a SHORT SURVEY and upload any photos you may have to The Office of Emergency Management's damage assessment tool. This will help the City understand the extent of damage and to see where resources may be needed.

The City has published additional information for residents and businesses, including:

• Rolling updates

• Where to report issues

• Helpful links and resources

• Frequently asked questions

Sign up for free alerts about recovery and relief efforts through the City's ReadyPhiladelphia notification system. To receive text alerts to your phone, text STORMPHL to 888-777. You can find additional weather alerts and emergency information on OEM's social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

Tree Tender Classes

At the heart of SKCP's tree program is the work the Old/South Kensington Tree Tenders, which includes neighbors who have been trained by our partners at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) in the biology, care, and planting of trees. As the City of Philadelphia undertakes its first ever Urban Forest Strategic Plan, O/SK Tree Tenders are looking forward to the renewed interest and commitment to the planting and care of our neighborhood treescape. Register now to become a trained Tree Tender and join the effort. Scholarships available to those interested in participating in neighborhood tree care, contact: greening@southkensingtoncommunity.org

This virtual four-part program will teach any tree lover the basics such as identification, planting, tree biology, and proper care. As a participant, you will join a network of over 5,500 PHS Tree Tenders and will be joining one of the nation’s oldest and most respected volunteer urban tree care programs.

REGISTER NOW

PHS Tree Tenders Basic Training Webinars will take place 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Wednesdays and is a total of eight hours of training.

• September 22

• September 29

• October 6

• October 13

AND If you or your neighbors would like to see trees planted on your block please let us know. Old/South Kensington Tree Tenders will be planting in the Fall and are taking applications for trees to be planted in Spring '22..
You can fill out the form at https://pg-cloud.com/phs/?openform=request-a-tree or call 215-370-0099 or call/text 215-370-0099 for assistance in applying.

myPLACE is your place for education!

Shelby Fisk Office of Children and Families

Ten locations across the City help adults earn a high school diplomas and get ready for the workplace. The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families supports the myPLACE network, which offers adult education and career readiness classes across the city of Philadelphia. Free classes are available, and online class options are available during COVID-19.
Are you looking to:

• take classes to earn your high school diploma?

• gain a GED/HiSET, or an equivalent?

• brush up on your math and reading skills?

• take English language classes?

• or, sharpen your digital literacy skills?

If you answered yes to any of the above, get started through myPLACE! Details here.

WELCOME BACK! SCHOOL STARTS TUESDAY AUGUST 31st!

We are excited to Ring the Bell on a full return to in-person learning starting on August 31st, the first day of school, with all PreK-12 students attending five days per week and receiving instruction from teachers in their enrolled school. Stay up to date on Back-to-School info including bell schedules, transportation Fare Cards and more HERE!

Information, updates and resources will continue to be added as we approach the first day of school. Please visit this page often to see what’s new!

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10 healthy tips for students returning to school buildings this fall
Shelby Fisk and Edward Borrelli Office of Children and Families, Department of Human Services

As of August 17, 2021, almost 80% of Philadelphia adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But, the pandemic is not over yet. It’s important we continue working together to keep each other safe. Many children are too young to receive the vaccine. Everyone should take diligent steps to help stop the spread of the disease. Taking precautions also protects those who are most vulnerable. Philadelphia students return to full in-person learning this fall.

Click here for 10 tips on keeping your child and family safe and healthy as you plan for the school year.

SKCP COMMUNITY ZONING MEETING (VIRTUAL)

SKCP's RCO will host a virtual Community Zoning Meeting [pdf] on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

We will review the following projects:

6.30pm 1361 N 2nd Street
(view here project plan)
7.00pm 1643-51 N 6th Street
(view here project plan)
7.30pm 1700-44 N Front Street
(view here project plan)
8.15pm 1730-54 N 2nd Street
(view here project plan)

We will have time for questions during the meeting but we ask that questions be submitted in advance so we can use our time well.

Please review the project, submit questions, and register here for the meeting.

If you prefer, you may also sign up by calling South Kensington Community Partners' office at215-427-3463 and leaving a message with your name and number. SKCP will provide reasonable accommodation to any neighbor that requests additional assistance with joining the meeting or otherwise submitting feedback on the projects.

COVID Booster Shots Are Coming. Here's What You Need To Know

Pien Huang, Sydney Lupkin & Carmel Wroth, NPR

Health officials are preparing to roll out COVID-19 booster shots in the United States this September. According to a plan announced Wednesday, all U.S. adults who received a two-dose vaccine would be eligible for an additional jab of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine eight months from when they got their second one.

This week's announcement raises numerous questions about how urgently Americans need boosters, how the rollout will go and more. Here's what we've learned so far.

Finding Facts During the Pandemic

Immigrant Families Fund

Millions of immigrants are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, risking their health and well-being every day to keep our society going. And yet, many immigrants were excluded from federal stimulus aid. The COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund is providing financial support to immigrant families who have been left out of the federal government’s relief efforts. Immigrants may be eligible to receive a $500 grant to help cover whatever is most pressing in their lives.

More details here.

Little Free Library at Hart Park

Free Book Exchange. Take a book.
Leave a book. The best books are shared.

This week PowerCorpsPHL installed a new Little Free Library at Hart Park (1300 block of N. 4th St.). The Little Free Library was granted through the Fairmount Park Conservancy.

Some of Hart Park’s youngest friends helped stock the first round of books.

Friends of Benson Park Meeting

ATTENTION UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMANTS!!

Click here for "What is ID.me?"

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) is notifying certain individuals through their PUA dashboards that they must go through identity verification with ID.me to continue their PUA claim.
Click here for ID.ME information for PUA.

Click here on "How to I verify my identity when filing a new Unemployment Compensation (UC) claim at Pennsylvania DLI?"

Philadelphia Plastic Bag Ban!! Prohibición de bolsas plásticas en Filadelfia!!

New Mask Requirements in Philadelphia Effective August 12, 2021

Do I have to wear a mask or not? Philly’s new COVID mandate, explained
Michaela Winberg, BillyPenn

Philly businesses and institutions have been given a choice between two options.
1) Everyone masks: They can require all customers and employees to wear masks inside. If a business goes with this one, everybody has to wear masks inside the establishment — even if they’re fully vaccinated.
2) Everyone vaxxed: Alternately, a business can require all customers and employees to be fully vaccinated. The businesses that choose this route will be expected to ask patrons to see their vaccination card at the door. People who can’t prove they’re vaccinated won’t be allowed inside. Under this option, because everyone would be vaccinated, no one would have to wear masks on site.

What if I lost my vaccine card?
Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us, and the health department is streamlining the process to get a replacement. If you lost your vax card, call 215-685-5488 or email covid@phila.gov, and staff will help verify your address and info, and then work with you to get a new card.

How do I get vaccinated?
Visit Philly’s vaccination directory to find a clinic near you.

Read the rest of the details here.